Concordia continues to shine at NAIA National Championships as 10 earn All-America status

Concordia continues to shine at NAIA National Championships as 10 earn All-America status

The Concordia University, Nebraska, outdoor track and field squads continued to shine on Friday, May 25 at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Marion, Ind.  Senior Lauren Eickemeyer (Houston, Texas) and freshman Brittany Erdmann (Chanhassen, Minn.) achieved All-America status with top eight finishes in the shot put.  Joining Eickemeyer and Erdmann as All-Americans were both the men's and the women's 4x800 relay teams as the men placed 6th and the women's squad finished seventh. 

Women's Recap
After earning 10 team points on Thursday, the Bulldogs' women's team nabbed another eight team points Friday for a combined 18.  After 12 events, Concordia concluded Saturday's action in seventh place overall.  Azusa Pacific remained in first place overall with 44 team points.  

Eickemeyer and Erdmann got Concordia rolling with a fourth and eighth place finish in the Shot Put.  Teammate junior Katie Rich (Tilden, Neb.) was just outside of the team points and the All-America slots, finishing tenth with a toss of 44'8''.  

Sophomore Lydia Pomerenke (Seward, Neb.) wrapped up her seventh event in the Heptathlon.  Pomerenke finished 12th overall with a combined 4037 points.  

The final individual event for Concordia was the Triple Jump as freshman Jerrica Pearson (Gibbon, Neb.) placed 14th overall with a jump of 37' 0.25'

The Concordia women's team wrapped up action on Friday in 4x800 Relay.  The quartet of seniors Martha Meineke (Denver, Colo.), Bethany Sutton (Lincoln, Neb.), junior Jena Schwalenberg (Columbus, Neb) and sophomore Jenean Williams (North Mankato, Minn.) running the anchor to deliver a time of 9:10.35.  Concordia placed seventh overall and collected an automatic All-America status. 

"Senior Bethany Sutton had a tremendous 2:12 second leg to put us in great position and helped us carry through to a seventh place finish," said Concordia head coach Kregg Einspahr.  

Men's Recap
Despite competing in just three events on Friday, the men's team notched their first team points. The Bulldogs nabbed three points in the men's 4x800 Relay and are in a tie for 35th place after the second day at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  Shorter University leads the men's competition with 47 combined points.

Concordia sophomore Benjamin Hinckfoot (Colorado Springs, Colo.) got the Bulldogs started Friday with a 14th place finish in the semi-final round of the 110m Hurdles in 14.89.  

Fellow sophomore Jonathon Becker (Hartington, Neb.) followed with a time of 54.65 to place 16th in the 400m Hurdlers.  

Finally the quartet of junior Jared Hoffman (Griswold, Iowa), sophomore Adam Prahlow (Florrisant, Mo.), freshman Benjamin Sievert (Frankenmuth, Mich.) and senior David Eads (Bellevue, Neb.) posted a time of 7:35.71 to place sixth in the 4x800 Relay and earn the three team points.  The four Bulldogs also earned All-America status. 

"Senior David Eads had an outstanding anchor leg of 1:51 to secure sixth place," said Einspahr.   "Both the men and women finished considerably higher than projected going into the national meet."

CONCORDIA RESULTS – Friday, May 25, 2012
Women's Team - Field Events
Shot Put
4.  Lauren Eickemeyer 47' 8''
8.  Brittany Erdmann 45' .25''
10. Katie Rich 44' 8'' 

Triple Jump
T14. Jerrica Pearson 37' .25'' 

Women's Heptathlon (after 7 of 7 events)
12.   Lydia Pomerenke 4037 points

Women's Team - Track Events
4x800 Relay (Finals)
7.  Concordia (Martha Meineke, Bethany Sutton, Jena Scwalenberg, Jenean Williams) 9:10.35 

Men's Team - Track Events 
4x800 Relay (Finals)
6.  Concordia (Jared Hoffman, Adam Prahlow, Benjamin Sievert, David Eads) 7:35.71

110m Hurdles (Semi-Final Round)
14.  Benjamin Hinckfoot 14.89

400m Hurdles (Semi-Final Round)
16.  Jonathon Becker 54.65